Fuse connector



April 21, 1970 Filed Aug. 28, 1967 R. s. WILLIS 3,508,190

FUSE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 11 1-- FIG. 7.

R. S. WILLIS April 21 1970 FUSE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1967 FIG. 3.

United States Patent O 3,508,190 FUSE CONNECTOR Raymond Stanley Willis, 42 Ridgeway, Ruislip, England Filed Aug. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 663,733 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 8, 1966, 40,100/ 66 Int. Cl. H01r 11/22 US. Cl. 339256 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fuse connector comprises a tab member connected to another tab member via spaced arcuate side 'arms to define a fuse end cap receiving area and between which the end cap is received. A resilient tab portion extends outwardly from one of the tab members between the side arms for engagement with the end of the end cap.

This invention relates to fuse connectors for connection with the ends of a cartridge fuse.

A cartridge fuse customarily comprises a cylindrical glass envelope containing a fuse element extending between metal end caps of the envelope. In a fuse connector the cylindrical profile of each end cap may be received between sides of a U-shaped receptacle for efiecting electrical connection. It has been proposed to efiect electrical connection at the ends of the end caps of a cartridge fuse and to this end a fuse connector comprises a pair of resilient tabs mounted in cantilever fashion and spaced apart in face-to-face relationship to receive a cartridge fuse between them. This arrangement is particularly useful in a fuse connector where the cartridge fuse is arranged to be rotated to effect switching interconnection or disconnection between the end caps and the tabs. An alternative form of cartridge fuse comprises a cylindrical body of insulating material provided externally with a conductive strip secured at opposite ends of the body by cap portions integral with the strip.

An object of the invention is to provide a fuse con nector for a cartridge fuse such that a sheet metal body is formed with an aperture defining a pair of side arms between which a resilient tab portion projects, the tab portion being integral with the body at one end and at its free end being arranged to engage an end of the cartridge fuse while sides of the cartridge end are re ceived between the side arms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuse connector having a tab formed with an aperture defining side arms, one at each side of the tab, the resilient tab portion being integral at one end with a conductive-engaging means and of reduced width.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse connector wherein sides of the end cap of a cartridge fuse are gripped tightly between side arms of the fuse connector to hold the end cap securely in position while the end of the cap engages a tab portion of reduced width.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a fuse connector having side arms that are inclined forwardly on one face of a tab and are then bent rearwardly in convex arcuate fashion to extend behind a tab portion of reduced width where the side arms are integrally joined to improve their gripping action on opposite sides of a fuse end cap. The integrally joined poi-,- tion may be extended as a further tab portion for receiving a tab receptacle. The further tab portion may extend normally to the tab portion which at its end remote from the portion of reduced width is adapted to receive a tab receptacle for further electrical connection.

3,508,190 Patented Apr. 21, 1970 ice A still further object of the invention is to provide a fuse connector having a tab portion of reduced 'width which is more readily deflectable on engagement with a fuse end cap than the main portion of the tab which, due to its greater width, is stiffer and engagement with the end cap is facilitated while protecting against overstressing of the tab.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, sectional side elevation of part of a fuse connector assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary section of the assembly of FIGURE 1 on line 2-2 viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end view from the righthand of FIGURE 1 with part of the housing removed to expose the fuse connector; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional side view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a pair of fuse connectors of the assembly for engaging opposite ends of a rotatably mounted cartridge fuse.

The assembly of FIGURE 1 comprises a block 1 of insulating material formed with a cavity 2 for receiving a cartridge fuse 3. A fuse connector 4 is mounted in the block 1 and comprises a generally L-shaped tab having a first limb or section 5 extending through a slot 6 in a side of the block, and a second limb or section 7 extending at right angles to the first limb through a slot 8 in an adjacent side of the block 1. The slots 6 and 8 open to the cavity 2 and the limbs 5 and 7 project externally of the block as tabs adapted to receive tab receptacles terminating wire leads (not shown). Of course, section 5 or 7 can be a short section and not extend externally from block 1.

The connector 4, at the junction of the limbs 5 and 7, is apertured and a tab portion 9 of reduced width compared with lower portions of the limb 7 extends upwardly from the limb 7 between a pair of side arms 10 defining sides of the aperture and joining the limb 7 with the limb 5. The tab portion 9 extends in generally coplanar relation with the limb 7 while the side arms are bent in arcuate mannerto project sidewardly of the portion 9 further into the cavity 2.

An end cap 11 of the cartridge fuse 3 is received between the side arms 10 in a friction fit while the end of the end cap 11 engages the tab portion 9. Suitably, as shown in FIGURE 4, a pair of connectors are mounted in such spaced relationship that insertion of the end caps between respective pairs of side arms 10 effects flexure of the tab portions 9 in the manner of cantilever springs, resiliently to grip the cartridge fuse at opposite ends. To facilitate insertion of the cartridge fuse, the upper ends of the tab portions are formed with chamfers 12 and project beyond the side arms 10 into the cavity 2. The cartridge fuse 3, as shown in FIGURE 4, is suitably mounted for rotation within the cavity 2.

The pairs of side arms 10 serve to stabilize the cartridge fuse in its connected condition of FIGURE 1 against inadvertent displacement and to guide the cartridge fuse during insertion into or withdrawal from this condition. This guiding action facilitates proper connection and protects against inadvertent damage to the tab portions 9.

While the invention has been disclosed in relation to a fuse connector having integral tab portions for mating with complementary receptacles, the tab portion may be of other terminal form such as pin or socket contacts. Such alternative contact forms may be formed from the sheet metal by folding up from the flat blank strip.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

The invention is claimed in accordance with the following:

1. A fuse connector for a cartridge fuse comprising a sheet metal body having an aperture defining a pair of side arms, a resilient tab portion projecting between said side arms, the tab portion being integral with the body at one end and at its free end being arranged to engage an end of the cartridge fuse while opposing areas of the cartridge end are received between the side arms, the side arms being bent outwardly from one surface of the body in a direction away from said tab portion and are then bent inwardly in convex arcuate fashion in a direction towards said tab portion to extend to an area spaced behind the tab portion, at said area the side arms are integrally joined.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, in which said area is extended as a tab portion generally perpendicular with the resilient tab portion.

3. A fuse connector according to claim 1 wherein said tab portion is provided at a free end thereof with a chamfer which projects beyond said arms to facilitate insertion of said end cap between said arms and into engagement with said tab portion.

4. A fuse connector for cartridge fuse comprising a sheet metal body having an aperture defining a pair of side arms, a resilient tab portion disposed between said pair of side arms, said tab portion being integral with said body at one end and being freely movable about this one end between said pair of side arms to engage an end of the cartridge fuse while opposing areas of the cartridge fuse end are received between the pair of side, arms, said pair of side arms being integrally joined at opposite ends and having an arcuate configuration de-; fining first sections extending outwardly from one sur-, face of said tab portion in a direction forwardly there from and second sections extending outwardly from an;

other surface of said tab portion in a direction rearwardly therefrom, and conductor-engaging means provided by said body for electrical connection with electrical conductor means.

5. A fuse connector according to claim 4 wherein said second sections provide an extension of said integrally joined second sections thereby defining a tab member as said conductor-engaging means.

6. A fuse connector according to claim 4 wherein said tab portion is part of said conductor-engaging means and is in alignment therewith.

7. A fuse connector according to claim 4 wherein said conductor-engaging means define tab members as extensions of said integrally joined side arms which are disposed generally perpendicular with respect to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 800,829 10/1905 Rolfe. 946,741 l/ 1910 Trumbull. 2,291,674 8/1942 Alden. 2,432,966 12/1947 Del Camp. 2,946,026 7/1960 Rollefson 339256 X 2,974,302 3/1961 Ellis 339-278 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,011,997 12/ 1965 Great Britain.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner JOSEPH H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner 

